The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-01-14

1 IL
from their sins and come unto thee,
lest they be destroyed by the sword
| of thy wrath and they be as rotten
leaves in the clefts OF the mountains" !"
| The face OF the man upon the burro
turned CHASTITY white.
Drawing asmall leather bound Bible
from an inner pocket OF his coat, the
evangelist opened it and read: .If
any man hate his neighbor, and lie III
| wait for him, and rise up against and
smite him mortaiiy that he die, and
fieeth into one OF these cities, then the
elders OF this city shall send and fetch
him thence, and deliver him into the
hand OF the avenger of blood, that he
may die"
With a cry OF mingled pain and rage,
the man from the monntan canyon
| sprang from the back ofthe burro and
advanced nearer the speaker; while
the animal, frightened by the sudden
| movement OF his rider, dashed through
| the crowd and ran to thicket OF
| pines some distance down the road.
The disturbance caused the preach
er to pause, but he soon continued.
Thine eve shall not pity him, but
life shall go for life-so shalt thou
put away the guilt of innocent blood
from Israel"
"lt's a lie? He was guilty! There
amt no innocent blood on Israel!
He was guilty!"
1t was the man from the canyon who
with excited gestures, shouted these
words. The crowd, startled and
amazed, pressed forward, and some
were about to lay hands upon him.
During his career David Broxton
had witnessed many manifestations OF
emotion, when the hammer of con-
science had struck upon the door of
| thesoul, but this outburst exceeded any,
thing in his experience hitherto, and
for moment he was completely
overcome. Recovering he calmly
said: "Lay no hand upon this
brother He is staggering under
some burden crater than he can
! bear. Go from this place and leave
him with me. | will speak again to
you on the morrow. Go, and may
grace, mercy, and peace go with you"
Silently the little gathering OF list
eners dispersed, and the man whose
soul had cried out was left alone with
the preacher.
Friend" said the latter, ''tell me
your trouble that l may help YOU"
"Who told you there was innercent
blood on Israeli" asked the still
agitated man.
~ speak but the words OF God, re-
piled the preacher. "Layyo burden
at his feet. Confess unto him less his
wrath overtake you. Let me take
your hand while you speak OF your
sorrow"
| Thetroubled man whispered: Come
close. had wife in the States. She
was purifier than a blue bell O. the
Rockies. She was gentle, an there
warn't no spot on her. loved her.
l had little home, bright and lovely,
an one night when l come to that
home, there was man there, an he
had my wife, my Kate, settin' on his
knees-his arms was round her, an
his lips was kissin' her. l seen him,
an =" Seized by some sudden i'm
pulse, he ceased speaking. Letting go
the hand OF the evangelist, he said,
"No, will tell younothing.
"My friend" said David, II am sor.
ry for your unhappiness. The misery
OF memory seems to be with you,
and the voice OF conscience is crying
aloud. Your soul is in the dark, but
if you seek it the light will come. Ii
you have sinned, repent; if you have
suffered wrong forgive.
NO! Curse him! Pllnot forgive him. %
Unheedlng .his outburst, the evange-
ist continued. "Put away bitterness
from your heart, and in the quiet OF
| hnn,a l. &C
your sorrow, as gently as when she
you loved did listen. He will hear
and receive you, and in his pardon
you shall escape condemnation"
The two men walked to the thcket
OF pines, where the burro still remain
ed browsing among some tufts of scant
grass.
preacher" said his companion, aft.
er he had mounted the animal, II
wish was different, but I can't be,
an there amt no use trying. can't t
repent, cause l can't forgive him."
David shook him warmly by the
hand and said, Don't forget to speak
eently-that will make you different.
| will look for you at the meeting to-
morrow"
Tomorrow, mebbe I'll be different
| tomorrow, an if am, mebbe I'll tell
you then. Good night"
Good night, friend"
The evangelist gazed after him as he
rode slowly away. The moon looked
over the snow-capped peaks and
flooded the canyon with a sea OF
white splendor. The rider entered the
canyon and disappeared behind q line
OF granite boulders. Once again he
came into view in winding pathway
far down the rocky valley. Waves OF
light from the moons sea of splendor
rolled o'er him, and for moment he
seemed to David to have been washed
and made winter than snow.
81 trust he may be-" fervently
whispered the preacher as he turned
and walked away.
There was no peace that night for
the occupant of the cabin on the ledge
above the stream. Within his soul a
Thousand emotions battled with the
ferceness OF tigers. Nameless terrors
seized upon him. Black shadows
lurked in the corners OF the cabin. Ar,
rows of the moonlight shot through
the chinks between the slabs. They
seemed like threatening swords. lie
piled the fireplace high with pine
knots and set fire to them, thinking
to find refuge in blaze OF light. He
seized branch and struck at the dark
one scattering it in smoking fragments
about the room He sobbed over the
fair one and tried to kiss its lips OF
flame. He cried aloud, II won't for
give him! can't repent! Curse him.
| Curse him!"
At midnight the storm in the soul
OF the troubled man lulled, and sui
len calm settled apon him. Pale and
exhausted, he flung himself upon the
| pile of wolf skins. The fire burned
| low, and the red shimmering of the
| dying embers tinged the walls of the